RESPOND to each post150 words EACH POST ONE As a result of having a different perspective than Thomas Hobbes and the state of nature, John Locke also views the need for enacting a social contract differently. Locke did not see humans as warring in a state of nature as Hobbes had. Instead, Locke's state of nature could be explained as a perfect place where people had the freedom to choose their own paths in life so long as it did not infringe upon others. Locke viewed people as being kind toward one another as a result of the Law of Nature, which was a result of virtues from God. Under the Law of Nature, people were equal and would be treated as such because of their morals stemming from their belief in God. By the same token, Locke acknowledged that having liberty in the state of nature was not synonymous with a "license" to do what we pleased, as, "no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty, or possessions…"(Locke, section 6). Only when a man has done something wrong can another man have power over him in the state of nature and this power cannot be used excessively, and only using calm reason and conscience (Locke, section 8) Locke also understood the need for private property for men. Private property was the combining of a person using his (her) own labor along with the natural resources in nature to produce something. When a person used their abilities to produce something, they should have the right to that final product. However, a person could not claim more than what should be considered their own "fair share." In other words, owning excessive private property would now breach the Law of Nature. Because of the desire for private property and the want to maintain it, men would give up the freedom of the state of nature, relying upon a government for protection. To me, Locke's state of nature is more in line with my own thinking. People are not naturally evil and warring, but instead more virtuous, whether stemming from beliefs in God, their own upbringing, or just naturally moral. As a result, the only need for people to enter into a social contract is to settle disputes and not for self preservation as Hobbes suggested. Although I accept (interpret?) the notions of a state of nature from both Locke and Hobbes as theoretical, Locke's description seems closer to what I understand as reality. His description of the importance of property is not only unique from Hobbes', but also makes sense. People "like their things" and do not want them taken away. This seems very natural in society today. Locke's views were instrumental not only in our "re-establishment" of the state of nature when the American colonists declared their independence, but was also instrumental in the writing of the Bill of Rights. POST TWO Locke view of the state of nature is that mankind is "a state of perfect and complete liberty to conduct one's life as one best sees fit, free from the interference of others (iep.utm.edu)." In other words people ar.